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Monthly Archives: May 2013

I suppose I should have posted this on Memorial Day. I also suspect it’s never too late to pay respect to our troops, especially those who fought and died for their country. Memorial Day is a day to remember all such veterans, but since Garden Grove is my beat, I can’t help but share this fact: no city in Orange County paid a bigger price in the Vietnam War than Garden Grove. Forty one troops who hailed from the city known for strawberries died in that war. Theirs is a city that should be known for its service, as well.

The city of Stanton has announced that City Manager James A. Box has appointed Stu Greenberg as the new chief of police, effective today (May 31).

With over 27 years of professional experience with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Greenberg has a unique blend of law enforcement disciplines and qualifications. His training and experience includes commander of the Counter Terrorism Bureau managing the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Mutual Aid Bureau. He has also served as commander of the Homeland Security Grant Bureau Department.

“As chief of police, my priority will be to maintain the Stanton police services’ recognized level of professional excellence and continue the positive relationship it has built with the community, service organizations, and businesses,” said Greenberg.

Stanton contracts with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for police services. It’s tricky, but Stanton and the Sheriff’s Department work together to decide who will be tasked with protecting the city.

OK, truth be told, I was never a Boy Scout. I don’t know why, either, other than close to 100 percent of my childhood was devoted to playing sports and tormenting my sister.

But … man, it’s a treat when they visit the office, or write me a letter.

Both occurred last week.

First, Tiger Cub Adynn came in with his grandfather — to check things out and earn some Scouting points, I was told. He couldn’t stop smiling, or squirming, and, while he didn’t show much interest in journalism, he let it be known in no uncertain terms that he weighs 63 pounds…

A colleague snapped a photo of Adynn and we’re working on posting it shortly.

Then, I received a letter from a young man working on becoming an Eagle Scout. Here’s the letter (I redacted his last name):

Dear Mr. Rhoades,

I am a local Boy Scout from Troop 117, based out of St. Columban’s Church in Garden Grove.

I am currently working on my communications merit bagde. One requirement is to write to the editor of a local newspaper.

I’m sharing information about my troop. We meet on Mondays from 7- 8:45 p.m. at St. Columban’s Murphy Hall. We are a small troop, only five scouts. All five of us are working hard to achieve Eagle rank in scouting. We also go on outings, camping, hiking and volunteer at the community garden.

The skills we are learning in scouting are very valuable. I’ve already used some of what I have learned in areas outside of scouting.

I would like to thank you for your time and letting me share with you about my troop.

Attention car enthusiasts: Stanton is speeding toward its 12th annual car show so get ready to rev your engines for a rollicking good time. The show, featuring classics, customs, sport compacts, hot rods and imports as well as trucks, runs from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday (May 18) at Stanton Park, 7800 Katella Ave. The show will feature music, food vendors and a beer garden. The theme of the show: “All cars welcome.” Does that mean I can show off my grimy, 12-year-old Toyota pickup truck? Maybe I’ll give it a try for kicks.

The ace hurler for the girls’ softball team pitched the best game of her career recently against Valencia.

Actually, “best” does not do the performance justice. She pitched a perfect game, striking out 17 batters, in Pacifica High’s 7-0 victory at Valencia that kept the Mariners (22-5, 9-1) in first place in the Empire League standings.

The win improved Carlson’s record to 14-1.

How do you improve on perfection, though? You don’t. But you try to repeat it.

Jurors weren’t buying Garden Grove resident Catherine Kieu’s claim that she was an abuse victim and suffered from PTSD and that contributed to her state of mind when she took a 10-inch knife to her husband’s you-know-what, then took the sliced-off you-know-what to the garbage disposal and ground it up. The jury took just four hours to convict the immigrant from Vietnam of torture and aggravated mayhem for the July 11, 2011 attack. Kieu faces a sentence of life in prison with possibility of parole.

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival organizers have selected the theme grand marshal for the festival, which will take place May 24-27. Fox news anchor Christine Devine was chosen because of her efforts to help children in a number of ways. This fits in with this year’s theme: “Celebrating 55 Years of Helping Local Kids.” Do you remember a celebrity named Billy Barty? If you don’t, I suggest Googling him. Many, many years ago when I was covering the Strawberry Festival for another publication, Barty was the grand marshal and I interviewed him. Maybe he’d had a bad day. Maybe I rubbed him the wrong way. But one thing was clear: He did NOT like me or my questioning ways. I can laugh about it now…